Brick-machine.



PATBNTBD AUG. 4, 1903.

T. BRIQKI MAG 'HINE.

APPLIGATI'JI'QK Hum MAY 19. 1902.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1,

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No. 735,058. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903. T. M. BOGGS.

BRICK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19- 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 735,058. PATBNTED AUG. 4, 1903.

T. M. BOGGS.

BRICK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19! 1902.

NO MODEL. I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

T. M. BOGGS.

BRICK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FLLEI) MAY 19. 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- NO MODEL 3 w/ VA THE NORRIS FUERS CO, PHOTO-LITNQ,WASHINGTON. D. C.

U. S ATES Patented August 4, 1963.

THADDEUS M. BOGGS, OF MONONGAHELA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,058, dated August4, 1903.

Application filed May 19, 1902. Serial No. 108,020. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THADDEUS M Boccs, a resident of Monongahela, in thecounty of Nashington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Brick-Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to brick-machines, and more especially to machinesfor forming hollow brick or tile of a type wherein there is avertically-movable plunger located above the mold. Machines of thischaracter as heretofore constructed have been provided with a framehaving cross-beams for supporting the mold-holder and having thereabovea verticallymovable cross-head carrying the plunger, which compressesthe clay in the mold and forms the hole in the brick or tile. The moldis provided with movable bottom, and

underneath the mold-holder is placed a V91,

tically movable cross head carrying rods, which at the proper time raisethe mold bottom to eject the brick or tile.

My machine does not differ in general construction from the type ofmachine so far described; but it differs therefrom in special featuresof construction, as will further appear.

Machines of this type as heretofore constructed have been provided witha wooden frame, and the driving-shaft and connected mechanism foractuating the cross-head which carries the mold-plunger have beenlocated in the upper part of the frame above said crosshead. Thisconstruction subjects the frame to a large amount of vibration and hasmade necessary a stronger frame than would otherwise be the case.

One of the objects of myinvention is to overcome these defects, and tothis end I construct the frame of commercial rolled iron and locate thedriving-shaft and gearing for actuating the plunger-carrying cross-headin the bottom of the frame, thus reducing vibration and making alighterframe possible and at the same time getting a more lastingconstruction of frame.

In prior machines also in case the driving mechanism is disconnected andthe machine stopped with the plun ger-carryin g cross-head in itselevated position the weight of the lat ter is suflicient to cause it todescend, so that the workmen in trying-to get at the mold are liable tobe caught by the descending plunger and cross-head. y

Another object of my invention is to overcome this defect and to providemeans for holding the plunger-carrying cross-head at its elevatedposition, so that the workmen can get in above the mold with perfectsafety. To this end I provide a suitable counterweight for theplunger-carrying cross-head, said counterweight preferably beingconnected to the cross-head by means of a walking-beam.

In prior machines of this type the plunger cross-head and the ejectorcross-head have been connected to move in unison. As a consequence whenthe mold-bottom had been raised to its full height to eject the brick ortile it almost immediately began to descend, thus giving the workmenvery little time to remove the brick or tile, clear away the clayadheringv to the mold, oil the same, and put in a fresh charge of clay.

A further object of my invention is to provide actuating mechanism forthe ejector cross-head which will give it a dwell or pause at the upwardlimit of its movement, thus giving the workmen more time to remove thebrick or tile, clean the clay from the mold, oil the latter, and inserta new charge of clay.

Further objects of myinvention are to improve machines of this characterin various details of construction to produce a more useful andefficient machine, such details comprising means for driving the same atvarious speeds-as, for instance, at higher speeds when making smallbrick or tile and at lower speeds when making larger ones; providingmechanism for conveying away the punchedout clay cores; providing meansfor healing both the mold and plunger, so as to insure a. better moldingof the clay and prevent the same sticking to either the mold or plunger;providing adjustable cross beams for the mold-holder, so as toaccommodate-various sizes of molds and mold-holders or so that two ormore molds may be operated simultaneously, and providing adjustableguides and gibs for taking up wear of the plunger crosshead and bringthe plunger into true vertical position, so that it will move perfectlytrue and in alinement with the mold.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedmachine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the plungercrosshead on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a side View of the same. Fig.6 is an end view of the same. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the plunger,partly in section. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8, Fig. 3; and Fig.9 is a longitudinal section through one of the moldholder cross-beams.

My machine is provided with a frame which in general construction neednot differ from old forms of frames, except that it is built entirely ofiron. As shown, said frame comprises the base-beams 1, which preferablyare of some rolled flanged shape, such as the I- beams shown, and whichare supported upon suitable masonry or other supports 2, providing a pittherebetween. Projecting upwardly from each of these base-beams are twoguide-standards 4,also formed of some flanged shape, such as the I-beamsshown, and a rear standard 5, which preferably will be a channel-bar orother suitable shape. The rear uprights 5 are secured to the base-beams1, preferably by being riveted thereto, while the front uprights 4aresecured to the base-beams by means of the connecting angle-pieces 6. Theuprights 4 and 5 on each side are connected at the top by means of atransverse beam 7, which is shown as a rolled I-beam, although it may bea channel or similar shape. The transverse beams 7 are secured to theuprights in any suitable way-as, for instance, by'being riveted to oneof the flanges of the rear uprights 5 and resting upon the uprights 4and secured thereto by the connecting-plates 8. A base-beam 1, two frontuprights 4, a rear upright 5, and a top beam 7 constitute a side frame,and the two side frames are exactly identical and are united by suitabletransverse memberssuch, for instance, as the tie-rods passing throughbracingtubes 10, interposed between the side frames. Any otherconvenient cross connections, however, might be employed.

The driving mechanism is mounted entirely in the base of the machine,and it comprises a shaft 12, mounted in bearings secured to the lowersides of the base-beams 1, said shaft being provided with variable-speedmechanism for driving the same, such as the stepped belt-pulleys 13, andbeing also provided with a pinion 14, which meshes with a gear onanother transverse shaft 16, similarly mounted on the base-beams. Theshaft 16 is provided with a pinion 17, which meshes with a gear 18 onone end of the main shaft 19. The latter is mounted in bearings securedto the lower side of the base-beams and extends entirely across themachine and is provided on its opposite end with a gear-wheel 20 of thesame size as the gear-wheel 18. The wheels 18 and 20 are provided withcrankpins 21, to which are connected the lower ends of connecting-rods22, the upper ends of which are connected to journal-pins 23 in the endsof the plunger-carrying cross-head 24. The latter is guided in waysformed by the front uprights 4 4 and carries the mold-plunger 25, whichprojects downwardly and cooperates with a mold held below the crosshead24. The ways for the cross-head 24 are formed by guide-pieces 26, whichare bolted or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the uprights 4 4.By making these guides separate from the uprights they can be accuratelymachined so as to provide an absolutely parallel way for the cross-head.These guides 26 have main bearing-faces 27 and side bearing-faces 28,the latter also being accurately machined. Secured to the sides of thecrosshead, near each end thereof, are guides 29, which bear against theside faces 28 of the guides 26. These guides 29 are adjustable, so thatthey can be brought close against the side faces 28 of the stationaryguides. This adjustment may be secured in any suitable way. Preferablyguides are provided, with slots through which pass bolts 30 for securingthe guides in place, and behind said guides are ears 32, provided withscrew-tapped holes through which pass the adjusting-screws 33, whichbear against the guides 29 and move them into position. The ears 32preferably are formed of separate steel blocks provided with a shank setin an opening in the crosshead and secured therein by a set-screw 34. Bymeans of the adjustable guides 29 the cross-head can be shifted slightlysidewise, so as to bring the plunger into exact alinement with the axisof the mold. Sidewise movement of the cross-head when moving up and downis prevented by these guides, and all wear can be taken up thereby. Theends of the cross-head are reduced in width, as shown in Fig. 4, and oneach face of this reduced portion is provided a Wearing shoe or guidewhich bears against the faces 27 of the oppositely-located guides 26.The wearingshoe 36 on one side of the cross-head is provided with twoears 37, one at the top and one at the bottom, having elongated holesfor receiving the bolts 38, whereby the shoe is secured to thecross-head. Ordinarily this shoe is not adjusted; but, if desired, itmay be adjusted by placing shims or liners behind the same, theelongated holes allowing for this. The opposite face of the cross-headisinclined, as shown at 39, and the wearing shoe or guide cooperatingtherewith is formed as a wedge 40, having a straight outer face and atapered inner face cooperating with the inclined face of thecross-head.Thisguideorshoeis provided with an inwardly-projecting arm 41, having aslot 42 for receiving the adjusting-bolt 43, said adjusting-bolt beingprovided with collars both above and below the arm 41, so that byturning the bolt the shoe can be drawn up or down, thus securing a closefit of the cross-head in the ways 26 and taking up any wear that mayoccur. To prevent the crosshead from dropping by gravity when themachine is stopped, I connect thereto a suitable counterweight, and thispreferably is done by connecting to the cross-head links 45, the upperends of which are connected to the forward end of a lever orwalking-beam 46. The latter is secured on a suitable cross-shaft 47,journaled in bearings secured to the top beams 7, and at its rear endsaid leveris provided with an adjustable weight 49, so that theplunger-carrying cross-head can be accurately counterbalanced, and whenthe machine is stopped with the plunger cross-head in its elevatedposition the workmen can safely get between the same and the moldwithout fear of having the cross-head descend and injure them.

The mold is shown at 50, and it may be of any preferred form of tubularmold provided with a movable bottom 51. The mold and its bottom restupon the mold holder or plate 52, which is provided with an openinginline with a central opening formed in the bottom of the mold. The moldmay be held on the mold-holder by any suitable means, and as this formsno part of my invention further description is unnecessary. Themold-holder 52 is secured to the cross beams 54, which are two in numberand which in turn are supported upon the transverse beams 55, restingupon brackets 56, secured to the uprights l. The cross beams 54 areprovided on their lower faces with lugs 57, hearing against the innerfaces of the transverse beams 55 and are clamped to said beams by meansof the angle clamps 5S and bolts 59, so that said cross-beams may beadjusted along the beams 55 and securedin any desired place, thusenabling mold-holders of various sizes to be employed or permitting twoor more mold-holders being supported on the transverse beams 55. Each ofthe beams 54 is provided at each end with an undercut slot 60, in whichare held the T-headed bolts 61, which secure the mold-holder to saidbeams. These slots and T-headed bolts permit mold-holders of varioussizes to be attached to the beams.

In order to secure a better molding of the clay and prevent it adheringto the mold or plunger, I provide means for heating both the mold andthe plunger. The plunger 25 is secured to the cross-head 24 by means ofa bolt 64:, and formed either integral with said plunger or surroundingthe upper end thereof is a casting 65, which is cored out, as shown at66, and provided with a steam-inlet 67 and steam-outlet 68, so thatsteam or other hot fluid can be passed through the casting to heat thesame, which heat will be communicated by conduction to the plungeritself. The mold 50 is heated by providing the crossbeams 54 withcored-out chambers 68, provided with a steam-inlet 69 and steam-outlet70, so that steam can be passed through said beams, thus heating thesame, which heat is communicated by conduction to the moldholder 52 andthence to the mold. In this manner sufiicient heat can be imparted toboth the mold and the moldplunger to prevent the clay from stickingthereto and to secure a better forming of the clay.

Connected to the movable bottom 51 of the mold are a pair ofejector-rods 74, which project downwardly and have their lower endslying in the path of a vertically-moving crosshead 75. This cross-headis connected at its ends to slide-boxes 76, moving in channelshapedguideways 77, secured to the basebeams 1 and uprights 4. The slide-boxes76 are provided with rollers 78, which rest upon cams or eccentrics 79on the main shaft 19. Although eccentrics may be used for this purpose,I prefer to use cams, such as shown in Fig. 2, so shaped that themold-bottom will be raised to eject the brick or tile, then permitted tohave a pause or dwell, and its downward movement being rapid. As theplunger 25 is moved by means of cranks on the main drive-shaft, itsup-and-down movement is fairly uniform, having, of course, a slightdwell or pause both at its upper and lower limits. The cams 79, however,give a longer dwell at the upward limit of their movement and a morerapid descent, thus working entirely in synohronism with the,

mold-plunger, but giving the long dwell to the mold-bottom at the upperlimit of its movement, so as to give the workmen time to remove thebrick or tile, clean the clay from the mold and plunger, oil the same,and insert a new charge of clay. v

On the main shaft 19 I secure a flanged roller 81, over which passes asuitable belt conveyer 82, provided with cross-slats 83, this beltconveyer passing over a flanged guideroller 8e, journaled in bearingssecured'to the rear standards 5, and under another guideroller 85,journaled in the base-frame. The inner end of this conveyer is inposition to receive the clay cores which are punched out by themold-plunger and convey them away and deposit them in a suitable barrow,car, or other receptacle placed behind the machine.

The frame of the machine, it will be seen, is constructed entirely ofcommercial rolled steel, thus making a cheap construction and one thatis very enduring. The driving mechanism is located entirely in the baseof the frame, thus relieving the frame of vibrations and making alighter frame possible. The plunger cross-head is provided withadjustable guides, so as to bring the plunger into exact alinement withthe mold and insure the plunger moving accurately up and down. Thecross-head, furthermore, is counterbalanced, as described, so thatwhenthe machine is stopped with the cross-head in its elevated position itcannot descend by its own weight.

The tile-ejecting mechanism being actuated cleaning the mold andplunger, oiling the same, and inserting a new charge of clay, while theheating of the mold and plunger will, to a large extent, prevent theclay from sticking thereto. The mold-holder is supported by means ofadjustable cross-beams, so that mold-holders of various sizes can beused or more than a single mold-holder applied, if desired. The machinecan be driven at various speeds, depending upon the size of the bricksor tiles being made, and the punched-out clay cores are conveyed awayautomatically, so that hand labor for this purpose is dispensed with.

What I claim is- 1. A frame for a brick-machine comprising two sideframes each comprising a base-beam, two front uprights and one rearupright, connecting members between said uprights and base-beams, topbeams, connecting members between the same and the uprights, saiduprights, base, and top beams being composed of rolled flanged metalshapes, and cross-connecting tie-rods for said side frames.

2. In abrick-machine,the combination with a frame, of a mold-holder andmold, a verticallymovable plunger located above said mold-holder andmold, a power-shaft, verticallymovable connectingrods from saidpower-shaft to said plunger for positively movingitboth up and down, anda counterbalance connected to said plunger.

3. In abrick-machine,the combination with a frame, of a mold-holder andmold, a vertically-movable cross-head carrying a plunger cooperatingwith the mold, a power-shaft,vertically-movable connecting rods fromsaid power-shaft to said cross-head for positively moving the latterboth up and down,-a walking-beam connected to said cross-head, and acounterbalance on said beam.

4. Inabrick-machine,the combination with a frame, of cross-beams, meansfor securing the same to the frame to permit lateral adjustment, and amold-holder secured to said cross-beams.

5. In abrick-machine,the combination with aframe, of cross-beams thereinprovided with slots, and a mold-holder secured to said crossbeams bymeans of bolts seated in said slots.

6. In a brick-machine,the combination with a frame, of cross-beamssecured thereto to permit lateral adjustment, said cross-beams beingprovided with slots, and a mold-holder secured to said cross-beams bybolts seated in said slots.

7. In a brick-machine,the combination with a frame, of cross-beamssecured thereto to permit lateral adjustment, a mold carried by saidcross-beams, said cross-beams being hollow, and steam connectionsthereto whereby steam may be passed therethrough to heat the mold.

8. In abrick-machine,the combination with a mold, of a cylindricalplunger cooperating therewith, an enlarged connterbored casting on thebase of said plunger, and steam connections to said casting wherebysteam maybe passed through the same to heat the plunger.

9. In a brick-machine,the combination with a frame comprising fouruprights, two such uprights being located on each side of the machine,guide-rails secured on said uprights on the sides of each which faceeach other, and a cross-head moving between said guiderails andprojecting beyond said uprights.

10. In a brick-machine, the combination with a frame, of vertical guidesthereon, a cross-head moving on said guides, and adjustable plates orgibs secured to said crosshead and bearing against said guides.

11. In a brick-machine, the combination with a frame, of verticalguideways thereon, a cross-head moving in said guideways, and shoesadjnstably secured to said cross-head and bearing against the innerfaces of said guides.

12. In a brick-machine, the combination with a frame, vertical guidewaystherein, a cross-head moving in said guideways, said cross-head having atapered face on one side thereof, a tapered guide-plate cooperating withsaid tapered face, and means for adjust ably securing the same to thecross-head.

13. In a machine for making hollow brick or tile, the combination with amold having a hole in its bottom of less width than the internal Widthof said mold, of a plunger adapted to enter said mold, said plungerbeing of lesswidth than the internal Width of said mold, means foractuating said plunger, and a conveyer having one end located underneaththe mold and leading beyond the machine.

14. In a brick-machine, the combination with a mold, of a plungercooperating therewith to produce a hollow brick or tile, a driveshaftlocated underneath the mold, connections from the same to the plungerfor actuating the same, a drum on said shaft, and a -belt conveyerpassing over said drum and leading outside of the machine.

In testimony whereof I, the said THADDEUS M. BOGGS, have hereunto set myhand.

THADDEUS M. BOGGS.

Witnesses:

Bnssn B. COLVIN, GEO. T. LINN.

